Bush; Immigration

President Bush indicts right-wing immigration reactionaries for putting America's "soul" at risk.

Look, when you grow up in Texas like we did, I did -- leave you out of the story here -- like I did, you recognize the decency and hard work and humanity of Hispanics. And the truth of the matter is a lot of this immigration debate is driven as a result of Latinos being in our country. . . .

"My only point is, is that I have seen firsthand the beautiful stories of people being able to take advantage of opportunity and make solid contributions to our society.

"Secondly, I'm deeply concerned about America losing its soul. Immigration has been the lifeblood of a lot of our country's history. And I am worried that a backlash to newcomers would cause our country to lose its great capacity to assimilate newcomers. And I believe that a newly arrived adds to the vigor and the entrepreneurial spirit, and enhances the American Dream.. . . .

When the man is right, he's right. I don't agree with all the policy details. For example, the Guest Worker initiative carries the potential for abuse of immigrant workers, and I am not confident that this administration is willing to put the necesssary screws to employers to prevent it. Wage and hour protection is absolutely necessary to making such a thing work. I hope Bush has the will to insist upon it.

That being said, the president is absolutely correct on the broad strokes. The very idea of an anti-immigration movement in a nation of immigrants is ludicrous. It is just wrong to indulge the racism at the heart of this movement, and Bush's refusal to do so is admirable. I applaud his conviction and his courage.